9 killed in Charleston church shooting


  A white man walked into a historic African-American church in Charleston, South Carolina, and opened fire during a Bible study class, killing nine people Wednesday evening.

The suspect was still at large early Thursday morning. And the shooting at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, the oldest AME church in the South, is being investigated as a hate crime.

“The only reason someone would walk into a church and shoot people that were praying is hate,” said Charleston Mayor Joe Riley.

Eight churchgoers died at the scene; a ninth at a hospital, police said.

Officials wouldn’t say how many people were at the Bible study during the shooting. There were survivors, said Charleston Police Chief Greg Mullen, but he didn’t elaborate.

Historic significance

Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church has been a presence in Charleton since 1816 when African-American members of Charleston’s Methodist Episcopal Church formed their own congregation after a dispute over burial grounds.

It was burned to the ground at one point, but rebuilt.

Every Wednesday evening, the church holds a Bible study in its basement.

The shooting was “obviously the most intolerable and unbelievable act possible,” the mayor said.

“People in prayer Wednesday evening. A ritual, a coming together, praying, worshiping God. An awful person come in and shoot them is inexplicable,” Riley said.

Police received the first call around 9:05 p.m. Officers arrived to find several victims inside.

“It’s really bad. It’s a very bad scene,” local pastor Thomas Dixon said.

church shooting

Search on for suspect

Police said the suspect in the shooting is a clean-shaven white man in his 20s, with a slender build and sandy blonde hair. He was wearing a gray sweatshirt, blue jeans and boots.

Soon afterward, news cameras showed officers taking a man matching that description into custody, but he was later released.

Police said they were still looking for the shooter.

“He obviously is extremely dangerous,” Chief Mullen said. “We will put all our resources, we will put all of our energy in finding this individual.”

The department asked anyone with information to call 911 dispatchers.

“While we do not yet know all of the details, we do know that we’ll never understand what motivates anyone to enter one of our places of worship and take the life of another,” South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley said.

Mullen was more direct: “I do believe this was a hate crime.”

‘Sick to our stomachs’

The church sits in an area of Charleston, densely packed with houses of worship and well-preserved old buildings.

The city, as several reverends pointed out, is known as the “Holy City” for its tolerant attitude toward different denominations.

Early Thursday morning, residents stood in circles, hands clasped and heads bowed, as they prayed.

“Like everybody out here, we’re sick to our stomachs that this could happen in a church,” Rep. Dave Mack, a friend of the church’s pastor, said.

They called for justice, but also for calm heads.

Theirs is a strong community, they said, and this incident wouldn’t tear them apart.

Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush canceled a scheduled town hall in Charleston on Thursday because of the shooting.

“As the #Charleston police deem this horrific act a hate crime,” the King Center tweeted, “we pray vigorously that this person’s hate does not cultivate more hate.”

Charleston

Views: 708

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Charleston S.C. shooting: The Agenda Exposed Parts 1 & 2

was listening to a talk show last night on Late night in the Midlands, these 2 guys broke down this alleged gunman's name and how each word actually is heavily "Racist" influence names associated with White Supremacist groups and websites. "Storm" especially. Dylan being a very popular white supremacist name, Roof having to do w/ being on top or something about being in "Front"....i dunno...starting falling asleep.. A very Interesting show, shoulda recorded it,,,sure it'll play again

RSS

"Destroying the New World Order"

TOP CONTENT THIS WEEK

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!

mobile page

12160.info/m

12160 Administrators

 

Latest Activity

Doc Vega posted a blog post
3 hours ago
tjdavis posted a blog post
20 hours ago
Less Prone favorited tjdavis's video
21 hours ago
Doc Vega's 4 blog posts were featured
21 hours ago
tjdavis's 3 blog posts were featured
21 hours ago
Larry Harmen's blog post was featured
21 hours ago
tjdavis posted a photo
21 hours ago
MAC posted a discussion
yesterday
cheeki kea commented on cheeki kea's photo
Thumbnail

New jobs off shore

"It's not surprising many former workers are heading away for better opportunities after being…"
yesterday
cheeki kea posted photos
yesterday
tjdavis posted a photo
yesterday
tjdavis posted videos
Saturday
MAC posted a video

This is INSANE! The Biden administration is doing it in ALL 50 states! | Redacted w Clayton Morris

American Financing:N M L S 1 8 2 3 3 4, N M L S consumer access dot org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.799% for well qualified borrowers. Visit https://...
Friday
tjdavis posted a video

Pete Seeger on being Black Listed in America, 1965: CBC Archives | CBC

In this clip from 1965, folk singer and activist Pete Seeger talks about being black listed for "un-American activities" and his refusal to answer questions ...
Friday
tjdavis posted a photo
Friday
tjdavis posted a blog post
Friday
Doc Vega commented on Doc Vega's blog post Letitia James You know the one who Announced She was going after Donald Trump Now targets Ivermectin!
"The Communists from within will not let you co-exist they will continue to try to steal your…"
Thursday
Doc Vega posted a blog post

Letitia James You know the one who Announced She was going after Donald Trump Now targets Ivermectin!

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/wp-content/uploads/0-1468-600x313.jpg 600w,…See More
Thursday
Mr. Sizzle posted photos
Thursday
Mr. Sizzle favorited Doc Vega's blog post A Message to Illegal Aliens
Thursday

© 2024   Created by truth.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

content and site copyright 12160.info 2007-2019 - all rights reserved. unless otherwise noted